Control system.



A. J. HALL.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICAT10N FILED JAN.30.1914.

1,157,777. Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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ARTHUR HALL, OF WILKINSBUBJG, FENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '1'0' WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTEQL SYSTEM.

Application filed January 30, 1914.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. HALL, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of l/Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny andState of'Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inControl Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control systems, and it has special reference toelectro-pneumatic means for actuating certain of the control apparatusemployed therein. 7

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicatedcharacter which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction andparticularly reliable and positive in operation.

In the prior art, devices of the general ernedby connections on themember to be.

actuated and that are normally open to admit fluid pressure to bothsides of the piston. By energizing and, consequentIy, closing the valveto release the pressure from either end of the cylinder, immediate andrapid movement toward that end occurs, the movement being continued tothe end of the piston stroke or to an intermediate point, dependent uponthe time of readmission of the fluid pressure to the cylinder end inreference, by

reason ofthe deenergization and consequent return to the normal openposition of the- .shown my invention inconnection with an old andwell-known control system and applied to a particular control apparatusmem- Specification of Letters Eatent.

Fatenteol Oct. as, T915.

Serial No. 815,364.

R and another by a switch R a plurality of control switches of afamiliar type LS, M, P, S, and G, for effecting the desired circuitchanges; a master controller MC and a master reverser MR for energizingthe control switches through a suitable control resistor CRand adaptedto assume a plurality of motor-accelerating positions a to g inclusive;a main-circuit and control circuit apparatus marked Field change-overand reverser and having the combined functions implied by the name; anelectrically controlled, pneumatically-operated actuator 1 for theapparatus just referred to; and a suitable source FP of fluidpressurefor the actuator. I

The general construction of the combined field change-over and reverseris prefer.- ably similar to that of the familiar controller drums,although the reverser is here shown developed into a single plane, forconvenient illustration. The apparatus adapted to assume two operativepositions in either direction from an imaginary off position the firstposition in one direction corresponding to the forward running positionand the first position in the opposite direction corresponding to thereverse running position, the second position in either case serving tochange from full field to normal field connections of the motors, for apurpose well-known in the art.

The actuator 1 comprises a double-acting duplex piston 2; a suitablecylinder or casing 3 therefor; a pair of magnet valves 4 and 5 ofsubstantially familiar or any other suitable construction, which arenormally open and which are respectively adapted, when energized, toclose and release the normally resent fluid pressure from thecorrespond? ing end of the cylinder 3; and an oscillating link 6operatively associated with the piston in the drawing.

Assuming the actuator to be in the for- A ward running position as shownin the drawing, the valves 4 and 5 being deenergized and opento admitfluid under pressure to both ends of the cylinder 3 from the sourceFP,.the operation of the actuator may be described as follows: Upon theenergization of the magnet coil of the valve 4 or 5, as hereinafterdescribed, the corresponding valve closes, thus cutting offcommunication .with the source FF and releasing the pressure from thecorresponding end of the cylinder, whereby an immediate and rapidmovement toward that end ensues. To stop such movement, it ismerelynecessary to deenergi ze the valve magnet coil in circuit,

whereupon the valve opens and the fluid pressure on opposite sides ofthe piston is again equalized, the piston, consequently,

'quickly coming to rest in the desired position. I

-As hereinbeforestated, my invention is not limited to any one system ofelectric motor control and, consequently, only so much of the systemhere shown will be described as is necessary for a clear understandingof the connection of the actuator 1 with the system. Moreover, the fieldchange-over and reverser whichis shown as I operatively' associatedwiththe actuator 1, this being the preferred application thereof,

will not be described in detail .here, inas- Y Y much as theconstructionand operation ofv the reverser are-fully set'forth in a co-pendingjointapplication of Norman W. Storer and myself, Serial No. 825,491, filedMarch 18,1914, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Mfg. Co; Itwill, of course, be understood that theactuator may be employed in otherways, if desired.

Assuming that the apparatus embodied in,

the control system occupies the positions shown in the drawing, theoperation ofthe system, so far as itappertains to my invention. is asfollows: If the master reverser MR is moved to the reverse position andthe master controller to its position a, a control circuit isestablished from the trolley, through a conductor 8, control fingers 9and 10, which are bridged by a contact segment 11, a conductor 12,control resistor CR and conductors-13 and 14 to ground. Another Icircuit is established through a conductor 15,

control fingers 16 and 17, which are bridged by a contact member 18 ofthe master reverser MR, a conductor 19, control fingers 20 and 21, whichare bridged by a contact member 22 of the field change-over andreverser, conductor 23 and the coil of the reversing valve 5, to ground,thus energizing the reversing coil of the reverser, which is thereuponactuated to its reverse running position, designated as-RFF, bytheactustraight series relation, as indicated in Fig.

2. This method of operation is familiar, and no further description,therefore, is believed to be necessary here.

In the position d, an energized contact segment 24 .of the mastercontroller engages a control finger 25, whence circuit is completedthrough a conductor 26, control fingers 27 and 28, which respectivelyengage contact members 29 and 30 and conductor 31 to the coil of thevalve 4. The field changeover and reverser is thus moved to the secondor field-changing position, designated as FNF.

When the reverser is moved to its second pos1t1on, by reason of thepeculiar shape of the main-circuit contact members 32 and 33, contact isbroken with control fingers 34 and 35, and circuit is made with controlfingers 36 and 37, respectively. Fingers 34 and 35 arerespectivelyconnected to one end ofthe field windings F and F and the fingers36 and37 to intermediate points of the respective windings and, therefore, thefull field connections of the motors are severally changed to the normalfield con- I nections and a higher speed is obtained.

The new control circuits established in I the normal field position ofthe reverser, may be traced-as follows: from the energized controlfinger 38 that engages contact member 39 thereof, control finger40,'conductor 41, stationary contact members 42, at present notconnected, but that are adapted to be bridged by a contact member markedR out, when the switch R opens to its lower position, conductor 43,control fingers 44 and 21 that are bridged by the contact member 22, andconductor 23 to the coil of the reversing valve'5.

' By reason of the above described arrange ment of circuits, when,during the actuation before the transition of the motors to parallelcircuit relation is effected by the closing of switch G, the opening ofswitch S and the closing of Switch P, as indicated in Fig. 2. The switchR is then closed and the reverser is again actuated in positions f andg, respectively, in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

The above-specified control circuits, which form no part of my presentinvention except in so far as they eflect their intended functions inconjunction therewith, are more fully set forth in the co-pendingapplication hereinbefore identified.

It will be understood that an operation of .the reverser similar to thatjust recited will occur when the apparatus occupies its reverse runningposition, designated as RFF, upon the movement of the master controllerMC to either of its positions d or g.

It Will also be understood that the actuation of the field change-overand reverser from the forward to the reverser position, or vice versa,reverses the connections of the field windings F and F through themedium of certain of the contactmembers located upon the lower end ofthe combined apparatus and the corresponding control 40 fin descriptionof which is not deemed necesgers, in a, well-known manner, detailed saryhere.

I do not wish to be restricted to the particular circuit-connections andarrangements necting said piston and said drum, a Supply of fluidpressure, normallyopen means for adm1tting fluid pressure to both endsof said cylinder, and electro-magnetically con trolled means forreleasing the pressure from either end to produce a predeterminedstepby-step movement toward that end.

2. The combination with a movable member, of an actuating meanscomprising a piston operatively connected to said member,

' .-a supply of fluid pressure, a cylinder in which the piston operates,valves" normally open to admit the fluid pressure to both ends of saidcylinder, and means dependent upon the action of said movable member fortemporarily excluding the pressure from either side to produce apredetermined movement toward that side.

3. The combination with a movable member, of an actuating meanscomprising a piston operatively connected to said member, a supply offluid pressure, a cylinder in which the piston operates,electro-magnetically operated valves normally open to admit the fluidpressure to both ends of said cylinder, and electrical means operativelyconnected to the movable member for governing the closure of eithervalve to produce movement toward that valve.

4. The combination with a movable member adapted to assume a pluralityof opera-,

tive positions in each of a plurality of directions, of an actuatingmeans comprising a pair of pistons operatively connected to said member,cylinders in which the pistons operate, means for normally admittingfluid pressure to both cylinders, and electrical means dependent uponthe movable member for temporarily excluding the pressure from, andre-admitting the pressure to, either cylinder to produce a step-by-stepmovement in the corresponding direction.

5. A controller for electric motors comprising a multi-positionswitching device having main circuit contact members, a movableoperating member attached to said device, a cylinder, a supply of fluidpressure, a piston operating within the cylinder, and,electromagnetically actuated valves normally open to admit the fluidpressure to both ends of said cylinder, the valve-actuating magnetsbeing governed by connections I on said device.

6. A controller for electric motors comprising a control drum providedwith main and auxiliary circuit contact members, a movable operatingmember for said drum, a cylinder, a supply of fluid pressure, a pistonoperating Within the cylinder, and electromagnetically actuated valvesnormally open to admit the fluid. pressure to both ends of saidcylinder, the valve-actuatin magnets being governed by certain of saiauxiliary contact members.

7. A controller for electric motors com-- prising a single switchingdevice having circuit connections for reversing the motors and forindependently changing the field strength thereof, and an actuatingmeans for said device comprising a movable mem'-' ber attached thereto,a piston operatively connected to-said member, means for normallyadmitting fluid pressure to both sides of said pistonyand electricalmeans 'for controlling the exclusion of pressure from either side.

8. A controller for electric motors comprising a single switching deviceadapted to lbs assume a plurality of positions in a forward and 1n areverse dlrection, the initial posiv tions corresponding to forward andreverse running, respectively, and the subsequent positions being alsoadapted to change the amounts of the motor field windings in circuit,and an actuator comprising a movable member attached to said device, apiston operatively connected to said movable member, a cylinder in whichthe piston operates, valves for normally admitting fluid pressure toboth ends of said cylinder, and electrical means dependent upon theactuated member for effecting an alternate closure and opening of eithervalve to produce a step-by-step movement in the corresponding direction.

9. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, anaccelerating resistor, a plurality of control switches and a masterswitch, of a switching device having a plurality of main and auxiliarycontact members, and an actuator for said device comprising a pistonoperatively connected thereto, a cylinder in which the piston operates,a source of fluid pressure, a pair of trical means dependent upon thepositions of said master switch and said auxiliary contact members forgoverning the valves.

10. The combination with a rotatable control drum, of an actuating meanscomprising a movable piston, an operating cylinder therefor, anoscillating link member for connecting said piston and said drum, asupply of fluid pressure, a pair of valves normally open to admit fluidpressure to both ends of said cylinder, a pair of actuating coils forthe respective valves, and means for energizing said coils underpredetermined conditions to eflect movement of said drum in the one orthe other direction in' predetermined steps.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd dayof Jan.

ARTHUR J. HALL. Witnesses B. B. HINES.

